Flying-boat.



T. P. BROOKE.

FLYING BOAT.

APPLICATION FILED MAY I7. 1916.

Pzflented Apr. 23, 1918.

:ll m wm 4 SHEETS-SHFET I.

INVENTOR.

a 7 mm UATTORNEY T. P. BROOKE.

FLYING BOAT.

APPLICATION FILED MAY I7, 19I6.

4 SHEETS-SHFET 2.

r IAZEXTOR. 7 [71017405.] 51 "00/56;

T. I. BROOKE.

FLYING BOAT.

APPLICATION FILED MAY I7, 1916.

4 SHEETSSHFET 3.

Patented Apr. 23, 1918.

T. P. BROOKE.

FLYING BOAT.

APPLICATION FILED MAY I7. 1916 men-ted Apr. 23,1918.

4 SHEETS-SHFE 4- proved device of this character having a THUMAS 1P. FROUJKE, 0F UHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASfiIGNOR TO THE BROOKE AIEGRAF'IE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

FLYING-BOAT.

. menses.

Specification of Letters Patent.

To all whom it may concern."

Be it known that I, THOMAS P. BROOKE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flying-Boats, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates in eneral to im provements in flying boats, ut more par ticularly to improvements in the hydroplane or bottom of the boat, and also the means for mounting, housing and cooling the motor therein, and one of the objects of the invention is to provide improved means for causing the machine to readily and quickly rise or plane upon the water, and improved means for overcoming or preventing excessive resistance or drag on the machine while traveling in the air.

A further object is to provide an imstreamlined limousine body or cabin and in which structure the motor is so located as to be always accessible during flight.

A further object is to lace the motor down in the boat body to obtain a low center of ravity and at the same timecompletely ouse the motor by the boat body.

A still further object is to provide improved means whereby the motor will be cooled by the action of the propeller blades. Also that there will be no resistance caused by projecting parts of the motor or radiators.

' To the attainment of these ends and the accomplishment of other new and useful objects as will appear, the invention consists in the features of novelty in substantially the construction, combination and arrangement of the several parts hereinafter nore fully described-and claimed and shown in the accompanying drawings, illustrating the invention and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an improved fiying boat body or boat of this character constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention and with some of the parts in section. I

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan View, of the struc ture shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 1 and with parts broken away.

Fig. 4.- is a View taken on line M, Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a view taken on line 5-5, Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a view taken on line 66, Fig. 2.

Patented Apr. 223, 19 .1%

Fig. 7 is a detail front elevation as taken i i from the right end of F ig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a detail vertical sectional View taken on line 8-8, Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 is a detail vertical sectional view taken on line 9-9, Fig. 1..

Fig. 10 is a detail vertical sectional View taken on line 10, 10, Fig. 1.

Fig. 11 is a detail vertical sectional view I boat body, projecting from. and suitably attached thereto are planes or wings 16.

The propeller 17 of any desired or ap proved type, is arranged at the rear of the planes or wings 16, and this propeller is operated in any suitable manner, such as by means of a vertical haft 18, of a motor to be hereinafter referred to and which motor is situated within the body 15 of the machine, in order to obtain a low center of gravity and at the same time completely house the motor by the boat body, thereby dispensing with the necessity of mounting' the motor upon the superstructure, where it would be subject to the action of the air currents in such a way as to result in excessive resistance, besides being located in a position where it would'be inaccessible durin flight.

lhe main portion 15 of the body terminates adjacent the rear edges of the wings or planes and is constructed to form ad acent the forward part thcreof, a cabin 22 within which are arranged suitable seats 23. Theforward part of the body is preferably curved upwardly a shown andthe bottom of the body is shaped to form steps 24, 25,

as shown more clearl in Figs. 5 and 6. The

rear step 25 is fiat an 'is located adjacent the end of the main portion of the body While portion of the bottom of the body be; tween the steps 24, 25 and on each side of the center is flat and inclined upwardly in a forward direction as at 27, while the re ward the V shaped step 24, as-at 28, 29 and 30 in Figs. 9, 8 and 10. The upri ht portion of the V haped step 24 is provi ed with a series of apertures or openings'32, which extend entirely across the bottom of the body, and the openings gradually decrease in size from the center outwardly or toward the side of the body. The larger openings being ar- 4 ranged adjacent the center of the bottom in the upright permits a greater quantity of air to be Supplied at that point than at the sides, and at a point where greater lifting force is necessary, and also at a point where less air is received from the air that is drawn under the V portion of the boat bottom. A chamber 33 is arranged in the body adjacent these series of openings, and is provided with inlets'35 preferably in the form of tubes extending upwardly along the inside of the body, one on each side of the body and these inlets open through the sides of the body as at 36.

Funnels'or shields 37 are provided to cover the inlet openin s 36 and epen toward the bow of the machine so that when the machine is advancing, whether in the air or upon the water, air will enter these funnels under pressure and from there through the pipes 35 into the chamber 38 to be discharged in a horizontal direction through the openings 32 to flow along the bottom of the boat. The openings 32 are arranged in such a manner that straight and substantially parallel streams of air will be discharged along and over the entire width of the bottom to form a continuous sheet of air bubbles between the boats bottom and the surface of the water to permit the boat to readily leave the water and will also overcome the drag or suction at the steps while the machine is in flight. Similar openings 38 are arranged ortion of the step 25 to extend transverse y of the body and these openings 38 lead from a chamber 39 which is supplied with air through the pipes 40 having entrance openings through the sides of the body and over which openings are arranged funnels 41, similar to the funnels 37, and

which funnels also face toward the bow of the boat. The currents of air entering the chamber 39 will be discharged through the openings 88 to act in a manner similar to the currents of air discharged through the openings 32.

It will thus be manifest that the streams of air which are discharged from these openings 32, 38, will prevent the formation of eddy currents, commonly known as dragmesses in. the rear of the steps during flight and also serves the function offorming sheets of air bubbles upon which the body rolls while riding upon the water.

Furthermore, the slight flat portion of the bottom at the extreme top of the prow, from which the bottom is shaped to form a pronounced V-shape terminating in an abrupt V step approximately midway of the length of the main portion of the body and which gradually increases in contour from the prow backwardly, eliminates backward impact of the waves, and converts such, power into an upward lifting action, thereby causing the craft to readily and quickly rise and plane upon the water.

The rear 42 of the body 15, in the rear of the step 25, is preferably rectangular in construction and tapers from the body portion to the stern, and the sides and bottom of the rear portion of the body converge from the body portion.

If desired, a rudder 19 may be arranged uprightly at the end of the portion 42 and counterbalanced to move about pivots 20, and this rudder may be'moved about its pivot in any desired or suitable manner. A horizontal elevator 21 may be also provided if desired, adjacent the stern of the machine. The cabin in the body is provided with a closure in the form of a roof 43, and is also provided with windows 44, and the forward part of the closure preferably comprises two top and side sections 45, 46, having transparent openings 47 therethrou'gh, The sections are preferably hinged on upright pivots, so as to divide the roof of this portion into two sections that swing to open the forward portion of the cabin. The roof 43 of the rear portion of the cabin may be constructed so as to be quickly raised or opened to permit easy ingress and egress. Thus it will be manifest that in order to open the front of the cabin, all that is necessary is to swing the front and side sections 45, 46 about their pivots. This structure also gives the body or cabin a limousine effect.

The cabin is provided with an upright partition 48 which extends entirely thereacross to form two compartments 49, 50, the

con'lpartment; 49 being adapted for passengers, while arranged within the compartment 50 is a motor arranged uprightly, so that the shaft will revolve in a vertical position and which motor is disposed within the body of the boat to be completely housed thereby and is connected with the propeller 17 by means of suitable gearing. The motor comprises a plurality of cylinders 51 and a partition 52 cooperates with the partition 48 to form a compartment 50 and another compartment 53 on the side of the purtition opposite to the compartment 50. The compartment 50 is provided with openings 54, having open hoods 54*, suitably arranged incense to form inlets for air, While the compartment 53 is provided with openings 55- which form outlets for air. The cylinders 51 are each provided with a casing 56 spaced from the walls of the cylinders and between which casings 56 and the cylinders 51 are arranged cooling flanges 57which extend longitudinally of the cylinders and the cylinders, casings and flanges are so arranged that the passages formed between the flanges constitute the only means of exit for the air which cntcrsthe compartment 50 through the openings 54. This air enters the comparti'uent 50 under pressure and the action of the propeller 17 revolving in close proximity to the outlet openings 55 of the compartmentffi, creates an area of low pressure or vacuum adjacent the openings 55, and the suction created by the propeller will cause the air to be drawn, from the compertinent- 50 over the cooling flanges 57 and the cylinder walls into the compartment 53 and out of the openings 55.

The partition 48 is preferably provided with. doors 58 to permit access to the coinpartment 50, and it will thus be manifest that with the arrangement of the motor in an upright or vertical position, ready access may be had to the motor cylinders, electrical system and carburcters through the doors 58 at all times and when the machine is in flight.

i What is claimed as new is:

l. A machine of the character described, en'ibodying a body having a cabin therein, a roof therefor, the forward portion of the cabin androof being shaped into freely separable. sections, the rear portion of the root of the passenger cabin being also sectional and adapted to be freely opened.

2. A machine of the character described, embodying a body having a cabin therein, the upper and forward portion of the cabin and roof being shaped to form separable sections mounted to swing about upright pivots.

A machine of the character described, embodying a body comprising a housing, the bottom thereof being shaped to form steps spaced longitudinally of the body and also spaced from the forward end thereof, and provision for forcing air currents through the upright portions of the steps, the portion of the bottom between the steps and also at the. extreme top of the prow for a short distance being flat, and the portion of the bottom between the said flat portions forminga straight line from the keel laterally to the edges of the body and diverging laterally from a medial line, at inclined angles and gradually merging into said flat portion, at the prow.

4. A machine of the character described embodying a body comprising a housing, the bottom thereof being shaped to form steps spaced longitudinally of the body and also spaced from the forward end thereof,v the bottom. at the extreme top of the prow" being flat, and the portion of the bottom between the steps being also fiat and pro visions for forcing air currents through the upright portions of the steps, the portion oi the bottom between the said flat portions forming a. straight line from the keel. laterally to the edges of the body and divergspaced flat portions extending laterally of the bottom, one of said portions being located at the front of the body and extending but a short distance, and the other flat portion being midway of the bottom, the portion of the bottom between said flat por tions forming a straight line from the keel laterally to the edges of the body and diverging laterally at inclined angles from a medial line, one extremity of said inclined portion gradually merging into the flat por' tion at the front of the body and the other extremity of said inclined portion forming an abrupt V shape at the edge of the flat port-ion midway of the body, the portion ofthe body in rear of the flat portion which is located midway of the body forming a flat step and inclining upwardly in rear of the step toward the stern.

(3. A machine of the character described embodying a body comprising a housing, the bottom thereof being shaped to form spaced fiat portions extending longitudinally of the bottom, one of said portions being located at the front of the body and extending but a short distance and the other fiat portion being located midway of the body, the portion of the bottom between said flat portions forming a straight line from the keel laterally to the edges of the body and diverging laterally at inclined angles from a medial line, one extremity of said inclined portion gradually merging into the adjacent flat portion at the front of the bottom, the other extremity of the inclined portion formi ng an abrupt V shape, the portion of the body in rear of the flat portion which is located midway of the body, forming a flat step and inclining upwardly in rear of the step and toward the stern, the forward end of said bottom being also shaped into an upwardly extending angle.

. 7. A machine of the character described embodying a body comprising a housing, the bottom thereof being shaped to form spaced flat portions extending longitudi-. nally of the bottom, one of said portions being located at the extreme top of the prow and extending for only a short distance, the other fiat portion being midway of the body, the portionof the bottom between saidfiat portions forming a straight line from the keel laterally to the edges of the body and diverging laterally at inclined angles from a medial line, one extremity of said inclined portion gradually merging into the adjacent flat portion of the body at the prow the other extremity of the said inclined portion forming an abrupt V shape, the portion of the body in rear of the fiat portion which is located mli dway of the body, forming a flat step and inclining upwardly in rear of the step toward the stern, the said fiat portion of the bottom adjacent said V inclining upwardly and forwardly.

8. A machine of the character described, embodying a body, a propeller, a motor for actuating the Propeller, said motor housed within the said body, and provisions whereby the operation of the propeller will induce a circulation of outside air across the motor cylinder for cooling the motor, the said provisions embodying a casing arranged around and spaced from the motor cylinder, said casing having open ends, and flanges arranged between the cylinder andcasing and extending lengthwise thereof.

9. A machine of the character described embodying a body, having a com artment therein, a motor entirely housed within the compartment and arranged on an upright axis, a partition dividing the compartment into separate chambers, there being air passages extending along the cylinder and forming the only source of communication between the two chambers, one of said chambers havin an inlet opening for outside air, the other e amber having an outlet opening for the air, and a propeller operating adjacent said outlet opening whereby the oper ation of the propeller will cause the air to flow from one of the chambers through the said air passages into the other chambers and out of the said outlet opening.

10. A machine of the character described, embodying a body having a compartment therein, a motorarranged in the compartment and entirely housed thereby, a propeller, and provisions whereby the operation of the propeller will cause outside air to circulate into the compartment, across the motor cylinder and out of the compartment, said motor being arranged on a vertical axis and embodying a plurality of superposed cylinders.

11. A machine of the character described, embodying a body havin a compartment therein, a partition divi ing the compar ment into separate chambers, a motor entirely housed within the compartment and messes embodying a cylinder, air passages extending lengthwise of the cylinder and forming communicating passages between the said chambers, there being an inlet in one of the chambers for outside air, there being an air outlet leading from the other chamber, the air entering the first said chamber under pressure, and a propeller, said outlet opening being disposed adjacent the path of movement of the propeller whereby the pro peller will create a suction through the said outlet.

12. A machine of the character described, embodying a body having a compartment therein, a partition dividing the compartment into separate chambers, a motor entirely housed within the compartment and embodying a cylinder, air passages extending lengthwise of the cylinder and forming communicating passages between the said chambers, there being an inlet in one of the chambers for outside air, there being an air outlet leading from the other chamber, the air entering the first said chamber under pressure, and a propeller, said outlet opening being disposed adjacent the path of movement of the propeller whereby the propeller will create a suction through the said .outlet, the said walls ofsaid compartment converging toward the propeller.

13. A machine of the character described embodying a hydroplane having a straight fiat portion at the extreme top of the prow, then shaped to form a pronounced V g1;adually increasing in contour from the prow backwardly, to eliminate backward impact of the waves and convert the same into an upward lifting action, said graduated V- shaped portion terminating in an abrupt step approximately midway of the length of the main portion of the body, the portion of the hydroplane in advance of the step diverging laterally in straight lines at inclined angles from a medial line, the hydroplane in rear of the step from the top line of the step inclining downwardly toward the stern and being flat, the rear portion of the hydroplane at the end 01"" the said downwardly inclining portion being offset upwardly, to form another and fiat step spaced from the first step and longitudinally of the body, said rear portion being substantially fiat and inclining upwardly toward the stern from a line at the top of the rear step.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, on this 27th day of April, A. D. 1916.

THUS. P. BROOKE.

. \Vitnesses:

IRMA M. Basins, J. H. JoorrUM, Jr. 

